The connections of electeic



(No Model.)

T. A. EDISON.

DEPOSITING CELL FOR PLATING THE CONNECTIONS 0F ELECTRIC LAMPS, 8w.

Nb 248,436. Patented Oct. 18, 188 1.

ATTEETI I 1\1\/EN TU @JQP/{W UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS A. EDISON, or MENLO PARK, NEW JERSEY, Assumes TO THE EDISON ELECTRIC LIGHT COMPANY,

OF NEW em, N.-- Y.

DEPOSlTlNG-CELL FOR PLATING THE counrctious 0F ELECTRIC LAMPS, &c.

SPECIFICATION fomciing part of Letters Patent'gil'o. 248,436, dated 0 I 'I Appliexiiion liled May 27, 1881: (No modeLlj I0 alt whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS A. EmsoN, of Mcnlo Park, in the county of Middlesex and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Depositing-Cells for Plating the Connections of Electric Lamps; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, and to the letters of reference marked thereon. 4

The object- I have in view is to produce a simple and e'llicient depositing-cell more espeeially designed for electroplating the connections between the carbon and the leading-in" wires of an incandescing electric lamp, which cell will permit of the ready adjustment of tlie wire-support, so that the point of platingcan be controlled. This I accomplish by providing the cell-with a perforated stopple, made preferably of some yielding material-st'1eh as soft rubber-through which the glass wiresupport is pushed from above, the stopple making a tight connection therewith. The cell is then filled to the desired height with" the plating solution, and the glass wire-support is adjusted vertically in the stopple, so that the solution will not rise above the connections of the carbon and wires. The leading-in wires of the lamp are then connected with the zinc plate of a battery or with the negative pole of any other suitable generator, while the positive pole of the battery or other generator is connected with an electrode immersed in the sol uti on, th is latter electrode forming theanode of the cell while the connections of carbon and wires form the cathode. tions have been plated sulliciently heavy to make them secure the solution is drawn oil, the wires disconnected from the battery, and the glass wire-support carrying the wires and carbon removed from the stopple. The leading-in wires .from the points it is desired to plate down to the top of the glass support may first be covered with varnish, wax, or some other substance to prevent deposition thereon, or they may be left uncoated and deposition proceed thereon. This cell can be inultipled to any desired exten so that a large number of connections can b'eiplated at the same time,

in the drawing. and the ends 0 c the cathode, of the deposit- Vhen the connec ctober 18, 1881.

a. yielding stopple being provided for each g s ppe In the drawing the figure represents a vertimlggsectibn of the depositing-cell with the glasisjiwire-support in position-therein.

Gf'gls the depositing-cell, made open at the bottom or having-an opening of sufiicicntsize madef-therethrongh, a rubber or other suitable stop'ple, 1 being used to close the orifice.

E "is the glass supportingtube, such as is used in my lamps to receive the conductingwircsjzl 2, which are sealed therein, the tube i-jbeingiprovidml with the enlargement D, for

sealing into the neck of the inclosing globe or bulb of the lamp. At their upper ends the wires 1 2 are secured to the carbon C at the enlarged or clamping ends 0 c by any desirable means-as, for instance, by flattening out the wires at their ends and wrapping them around the-carbon. The tube E is then passed through the aperture in the stopple F, the wires below the connections being covered with varnislntwax, or other substance preventing deposition thereon. The cell is then filled to the desired height with the plating solution, as shown, and the tube is adjusted vertically in the stopple, so as to bring the connections to the surface of the solution. Connections 3 4 are then made to the wires 1 2, and to the plate from anysuitable source of electricity, a battery, B,-being, for ease of illustration,sl1own The plate A formsth'e anode,

ing-cell. In multiplying this cell a shallow tank can be provided with a large nnmber'of perforated elastic stopples, each adapted to receive one of the glass wire-supports, which,

after the solution is poured into the cell; are

all adjusted to the proper height. The connections of 1 and 2 of all the carbons are then made with a source'ofeleetrieity and the connectious of carbon and wires plated. The solution is drawn oil" from the tank before the glass supports are removed from position in the stopples.

I do not claim herein the method described of securing the wires to the carbon or the combiuation ol' the carbon and wires secured in this manner, the same being the subject-mat tor of an application before lilcd by me.

What I claim is- I ing the supports of the article or articles to be 10 1. An electroplating-cell provided with a plated, substantially as set forth.

perforated bottom for receiving the support This specification signed and witnessed this of the article to be plated, and allowin'gthe 17th day of May,- 1881.

5 adjustment of such support throlwh said bottom', so that the point of plating fim be con- THOMAS EDISON trolled, substantially as set fortln Witnesses:

2. An electroplating-cell provided with one WM. H. MEADO\\-'(ROFT,

or more perforated elasticstopples for receiv- -H. W. SEELY. 

